Parents' Guide to

Top Gun: Maverick

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Tamer sequel to '80s fave has peril, cursing, solid message.

Movie PG-13 2022 131 minutes
Top Gun: Maverick Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell leaning against a plane
    1:04
  • Top Gun: Maverick Movie: A man in a military uniform standing on ship
  • Top Gun: Maverick Movie: A person flying a plane upside down over mountains
  • Top Gun: Maverick Movie: A woman in a military uniform sitting outside of a plane

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 55 parent reviews

Fergvfc3
Fergvfc3 Parent of 18+-year-old
May 29, 2022
age 9+

From a Navy fighter pilot - AMAZING. Absolute must-see.

An absolute must see, multiple times, and must be seen in IMAX. Most complex and exciting aerial scenes ever filmed - this will be the best aviation movie in the last 40 years. Actors and real airplanes with very little CGI. Amazing. And this from a guy who spent 30 years in the Navy, flew F-18’s, and went to TOPGUN. Two thumbs up from me.
feelyellow
feelyellow Parent of 12, 15 and 18+-year-old
May 28, 2022
age 10+

Feel good action film

Outstanding. Enjoyed every scene. Women are portrayed tastefully, strong, smart and independent. Many positive messages.
See all 55 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In TOP GUN: MAVERICK, Tom Cruise reprises his role as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, who's found his niche in the Navy as a test pilot, pushing the limits of new aircraft. When his friend and former rival Adm. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (Val Kilmer) reassigns Maverick to train a new group of Top Gun graduates for a special high-risk mission, he must return to Miramar. But when he learns that the class includes Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of Maverick's late best friend, Goose, he must find a way to resolve the past -- for the sake of Rooster's future.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (55 ):
Kids say (136 ):

Compared to the original, this sequel is 70% less sweaty, 85% less sexy, and 90% more tween appropriate. Top Gun: Maverick is a tale of redemption both for Maverick and for the original film. Top Gun is a piece of classic cinema, one of the most significant films of the 1980s. But it projected hyper masculinity as aspirational, arrogance as cool, and the idea that rules are for losers. The fact that Maverick's recklessness cost his best friend his life was lost in the excitement of the Danger Zone and the camaraderie of volleyball on the beach and serenading bar beauties.

Top Gun: Maverick remedies this -- so much so that it's actually a really great idea to watch them as a double feature with teens and tweens. In the sequel, the perspective is flipped, with the class of swaggering fighter pilots shown from the instructor's point of view. They're not ready, they're overly confident, and it's clear that they need structure and guidance. Still shattered from Goose's death all these years later and afraid that Goose's son, Bradley (Teller), could lose his life the same way, Maverick has to teach the young guns how to take risks in the most risk-averse way. The movie's romance no longer has an uneven power dynamic (ahem, dating the teacher), either: Maverick's love interest, Penny (Jennifer Connelly), is the same age and has her own, separate career -- and things between them get about as sexy as a starched collar. Where viewers are likely to feel the intensity is in the aerial combat, which is notably more breathtaking and includes stunning action sequences. Cruise is known for insisting on authenticity by performing stunts himself, and he and the other actors really fly these planes. That helps make the film more immersive. Many former '80s teens have fond memories of watching Top Gun with their parents. Top Gun: Maverick is made for that experience to continue.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about "trusting your gut." What does that mean, and how can you cultivate an instinct?

  • What does Maverick mean when he says that being a pilot "is not what I am, it's who I am." Are you so passionate about anything that it feels like part of your personality?

  • In both films, Top Gun classmates have a rivalry. How can competition be used to help push you to be your best, and when can it be unhealthy?

  • What is the purpose of a sequel? How does Top Gun: Maverick complete the journey of Capt. Pete Mitchell? What characters from other movies would you like to check in on 30 years later?

  • How do characters demonstrate courage and humility?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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